[anxteach]

I have been an elementary school teacher for four years and while there are parts of my job that I love (actually working with the kids and building relationships with them), I also feel intense pressure all the time. I feel like I'm never quite good enough or doing enough, even though people tell me I'm a good teacher. Being a teacher means always being "on" (30 pairs of eyes always looking at me and waiting for me to say something/do something), and it's incredibly hard to do when I'm feeling so anxious and doubtful. But my husband is in school and I'm the only one making money so I can't really afford to explore other options that might be less stressful. I feel stuck.

[IceCreamKid]

Originally Posted by anxteach

I have been an elementary school teacher for four years and while there are parts of my job that I love (actually working with the kids and building relationships with them), I also feel intense pressure all the time. I feel like I'm never quite good enough or doing enough, even though people tell me I'm a good teacher. Being a teacher means always being "on" (30 pairs of eyes always looking at me and waiting for me to say something/do something), and it's incredibly hard to do when I'm feeling so anxious and doubtful. But my husband is in school and I'm the only one making money so I can't really afford to explore other options that might be less stressful. I feel stuck.

Please look into counseling. I believe it would help you, and most likely your health insurance will cover some or most of the cost. Courage!

[regretful]

If you really enjoy what you are doing, stick with it. That's just my humble opinion. I left work that I really enjoyed because of institutional politics, forgetting how much I enjoyed the relationships that I built with my patients...If I am to ever given the chance to return to that work, I'll focus more on the delivery of services to patients than the institutional pressures...Had I focused on the relationships, I might still be working there, and as such, not in the throes of a self-imposed depressive episode.

I've been in front of a classroom. I totally know what you mean with being "always on". Therapy might help or maybe getting together with peers and just venting might do wonders. Just knowing others have experienced the same anxiety may be helpful. I don't have kids and I don't teach full time but I have been reading about some of the problems teachers are having in a nearby district. It sounds like a lot of unnecessary pressure. I don't know if you have to endure those evaluations but they can really take a toll on your esteem.

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[bloom25]

Well I dunno much abt your job but u must have a little leisure time once in a while atleast.....
jot down all the possible jobs u think you'll enjoy doing and then the possible one's out of those.
You can think of possibilities when ur having lunch or times like that when your mind would be free...
I know how you feel Cuz I feel the same myslef but my circumstances r totally different.

I'm pretty sure u love the kids n other things abt ur job....but remember it's your life ur the only one who'll live it.... n down the road you shouldn't regret ur decisions Cuz that feeling is the worst...

[anxteach]

Originally Posted by Michanne

I've been in front of a classroom. I totally know what you mean with being "always on". Therapy might help or maybe getting together with peers and just venting might do wonders. Just knowing others have experienced the same anxiety may be helpful. I don't have kids and I don't teach full time but I have been reading about some of the problems teachers are having in a nearby district. It sounds like a lot of unnecessary pressure. I don't know if you have to endure those evaluations but they can really take a toll on your esteem.

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Thanks for the understanding and validation. I often feel like nobody understands how intense and stressful teaching can be unless they've done it at some point. I definitely know that other teachers are feeling the same way - it's an insane amount of pressure. I'm lucky that I have a principal who makes things a little easier for us by not being quite as nitpicky about evaluations. I'm hoping some counseling can help me get a little perspective.